Chestnut won the big prize for the 11th time, breaking his official world record with 74 hot dogs and buns consumed in 10 minutes (in 2017, he ate 72). Counters at the contest initially miscalculated the number at 64. Women's champ Miki Sudo won her fifth prize by consuming 37 hot dogs with buns in the same time period.

Technique is important when eating competitively, especially when bread is involved. Six-time winner Takeru Kobayshi is credited with popularizing the "Solomon Method," in which the hot dog is split in half, the buns are dipped in water, and then both are consumed. Before using the method for his first victory in 2001, winners hadn't topped 25 hot dogs consumed; that year, Kobayashi ate 50.

As for women's winner Sudo, her consumption of 37 franks to earn a fifth consecutive win may owe something to Kobayshi. As she explained, "Typically I eat two hot dogs — two meats, followed by two buns, and rinse and repeat."